State wildlife officials euthanized a grizzly bear that was suffering from a gunshot wound late last month. State and federal officials are now asking for information on who shot the bear near Whitefish.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks received a report late last month of a grizzly bear near homes in Onley north of Whitefish. FWP planned to capture the bear and transport it back into the wilderness, but noticed it was in poor condition once it was trapped. FWP spokesperson Dillon Tabish.
“On Sept. 23 near Pothole Drive in Olney, our Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials trapped a grizzly bear and then had the euthanize that bear due to its deteriorating condition from a gunshot wound,” says Tabish.
Now FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are asking the public for information.
“There’s a lot of different penalties for it, but grizzly bears are protected as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and there is penalty for illegally shooting a grizzly bear,”says Tabish.
Anyone with information can call FWP anonymously at 1-800-TIP-MONT and Fish and Wildlife at (406) 329-3000. There is up to a $2,000 cash reward for information.
